thought it beneath their dignity to write in anything but Persian, and Hindustani literature was therefore very limited. But a great revolution has taken place. During the past hundred years Urdu has made a progress that is perfectly astonishing. Political and scientific expressions have been borrowed from the West. Translations of eminent foreign works have enriched its vocabulary to an enormous extent. Newspapers and periodicals as well as standard works have been pouring forth from the press year by year; and these new works are noteworthy both for the manner in which they are written and the matter which they contain. Sanskrit and Arabic being religious tongues, it naturally follows that the Hindustani is exceedingly rich in theological terms, and hence anfong Indian vernaculars is the best prepared to express the doctrines of Christianity.

The compiler bespeaks indulgence for the errors which have no doubt crept into his work. He will welcome candid criticism which, in the event of a future edition being called for, will enable him to make his work more worthy of the favour of the public.

He desires to record his thanks to the European gentlemen and Muhammadan scholars who have taken an interest in his work and have aided him with their counsel. He gratefully acknowledges the aid rendered to him by Rev. E. P. Rice, B.A., of the London Mission. Had it not been for the interest which he has taken in this work, it would not have been possible to bring it out. He would make especial mention of the kind help given by the Rev. E. Sell, B.D., and the Revs. G. M. and H. D. Goldsmith. Nor does he think it just to conclude without acknowledging his indebtedness to Rev. John Lawrence, the Secretary and Superintendent of the S. P. C. K. Press, Madras, for the accuracy and care with which the typography has been executed.

And now, may the blessing of the Giver of all good rest on this work, and make it the helper of reciprocal good-will between the rulers and the people of the countries in which the Hindustani language is spoken.

BANGALORE, January 1899.

S. SANGAJI.

In this work,

ع

when initial in a syllable, is signified by placed over the

Roman vowel which follows in utterance; when not initial, the like form is placed after the vowel which precedes: thus-Jöc âql,

مع

ma*.

R